Lottery method and system

Abstract

A lottery game unit has a price selection input that receives a selection of a lottery ticket price at which a lottery ticket corresponding to a lottery game is to be purchased. The lottery ticket price is selected from a plurality of lottery ticket prices. Each of the lottery ticket prices corresponds to a distinct known percentage of a progressive jackpot which increases in size based on a portion of ticket sales revenue and that can be won with a full match of one of a plurality of game-play combinations. Further, the lottery game unit has a random number generator that randomly selects a set of lottery numbers for the player

1 . A lottery game unit comprising:
 a price selection input that receives a selection of a lottery ticket price at which a lottery ticket corresponding to a lottery game is to be purchased, the lottery ticket price being selected from a plurality of lottery ticket prices, each of the lottery ticket prices corresponding to a distinct known percentage of a progressive jackpot which increases in size based on a portion of ticket sales revenue and that can be won with a full match of one of a plurality of game-play combinations;   a random number generator that randomly selects a set of lottery numbers for the player; and   a lottery ticket printer that prints a lottery ticket with the set of lottery numbers such that a player can determine if a match occurs between the set of lottery numbers and one of a plurality of game-play combinations, the plurality of game-play combinations being randomly generated in a matrix subsequent to the lottery ticket being printed, the matrix having at least two rows and two columns.   
   
   
       2 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein the match is a full match. 
   
   
       3 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein payment of the progressive jackpot is guaranteed by a third party. 
   
   
       4 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lottery ticket prices further corresponds to a distinct known secondary prize that can be won with a partial match of one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       6 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein payment of the distinct known secondary prize is guaranteed by a third party. 
   
   
       7 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein a row of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       8 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein a column of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       9 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein a column of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       10 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein a row of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations and a column of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       11 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein a row of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations and a diagonal of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       12 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein a column of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations and a diagonal of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       13 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein an instant game is provided together with the lottery game. 
   
   
       14 . The lottery game unit of  claim 1 , wherein payment of an instant game prize associated with the instant game is guaranteed by a third party. 
   
   
       15 . A lottery game unit comprising:
 a price selection input that receives a selection of a lottery ticket price at which a lottery ticket corresponding to a lottery game is to be purchased, the lottery ticket price being selected from a plurality of lottery ticket prices, each of the lottery ticket prices corresponding to a distinct known percentage of a progressive jackpot which increases in size based on a portion of ticket sales revenue and that can be won with a full match of one of a plurality of game-play combinations;   a user input device that receives a selection of a set of lottery numbers for the player; and   a lottery ticket printer that prints a lottery ticket with the set of lottery numbers such that a player can determine if a match occurs between the set of lottery numbers and one of a plurality of game-play combinations, the plurality of game-play combinations being randomly generated in a matrix subsequent to the lottery ticket being printed, the matrix having at least two rows and two columns.   
   
   
       16 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein the match is a full match. 
   
   
       17 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein payment of the progressive jackpot is guaranteed by a third party. 
   
   
       18 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein each of the lottery ticket prices further corresponds to a distinct known secondary prize that can be won with a partial match of one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       19 . The lottery game unit of  claim 18 , wherein payment of the distinct known secondary prize is guaranteed by a third party. 
   
   
       20 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein a row of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       21 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein a column of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       22 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein a column of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       23 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein a row of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations and a column of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       24 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein a row of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations and a diagonal of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       25 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein a column of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations and a diagonal of the matrix provides a set of numbers that define one of the plurality of game-play combinations. 
   
   
       26 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein an instant game is provided together with the lottery game. 
   
   
       27 . The lottery game unit of  claim 15 , wherein payment of an instant game prize associated with the instant game is guaranteed by a third party. 
   
   
       28 . A method comprising:
 receiving a selection of a lottery ticket price at which a lottery ticket corresponding to a lottery game is to be purchased, the lottery ticket price being selected from a plurality of lottery ticket prices, each of the lottery ticket prices corresponding to a distinct known percentage of a progressive jackpot which increases in size based on a portion of ticket sales revenue and that can be won with a full match of one of a plurality of game-play combinations;   randomly select, with a random number generator, a set of lottery numbers for the player; and   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, a lottery ticket with the set of lottery numbers such that a player can determine if a match occurs between the set of lottery numbers and one of a plurality of game-play combinations, the plurality of game-play combinations being randomly generated in a matrix subsequent to the lottery ticket being printed, the matrix having at least two rows and two columns.   
   
   
       29 . A method comprising:
 receiving a selection of a lottery ticket price at which a lottery ticket corresponding to a lottery game is to be purchased, the lottery ticket price being selected from a plurality of lottery ticket prices, each of the lottery ticket prices corresponding to a distinct known percentage of a progressive jackpot which increases in size based on a portion of ticket sales revenue and that can be won with a full match of one of a plurality of game-play combinations;   receiving, with a user input device, a selection of a set of lottery numbers for the player; and   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, a lottery ticket with the set of lottery numbers such that a player can determine if a match occurs between the set of lottery numbers and one of a plurality of game-play combinations, the plurality of game-play combinations being randomly generated in a matrix subsequent to the lottery ticket being printed, the matrix having at least two rows and two columns.   
   
   
       30 . A lottery game unit comprising:
 a price selection input that receives a selection of a lottery ticket price at which a lottery ticket corresponding to a lottery game is to be purchased, the lottery ticket price being selected from a plurality of lottery ticket prices, each of the lottery ticket prices corresponding to a distinct known percentage of a prize that can be won with a full match of one of a plurality of game-play combinations;   a random number generator that randomly selects a set of lottery numbers for the player; and   a lottery ticket printer that prints a lottery ticket with the set of lottery numbers such that a player can determine if a match occurs between the set of lottery numbers and one of a plurality of game-play combinations, the plurality of game-play combinations being randomly generated in a matrix subsequent to the lottery ticket being printed, the matrix having at least two rows and two columns.   
   
   
       31 . A lottery game unit comprising:
 a price selection input that receives a selection of a lottery ticket price at which a lottery ticket corresponding to a lottery game is to be purchased, the lottery ticket price being selected from a plurality of lottery ticket prices, each of the lottery ticket prices corresponding to a distinct known percentage of a prize that can be won with a full match of one of a plurality of game-play combinations;   a user input device that receives a selection of a set of lottery numbers for the player; and   a lottery ticket printer that prints a lottery ticket with the set of lottery numbers such that a player can determine if a match occurs between the set of lottery numbers and one of a plurality of game-play combinations, the plurality of game-play combinations being randomly generated in a matrix subsequent to the lottery ticket being printed, the matrix having at least two rows and two columns.